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The Universe Damaged By Observation?

ScentCone writes "The Telegraph covers a New Scientist report about two US cosmologists who suggest that, a la Schrodinger's possibly unhappy cat, the act of observing certain facets of our universe may have shortened its life . From the article: 'Prof Krauss says that the measurement of the light from supernovae in 1998, which provided evidence of dark energy, may have reset the decay of the void to zero — back to a point when the likelihood of its surviving was falling rapidly.'"

46 of 521 comments (clear)

  1. So if I stop looking? by Finallyjoined!!! · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will it revert?

    Or will it turn into a dead cat in a box :-)

    --
    If I had an Ass, I'd call it Fanny Bottom, then I could slap my Ass; Fanny Bottom, on the Arse.
    1. Re:So if I stop looking? by flyingsquid · · Score: 4, Funny

      God damn scientists, always threatening our existence with their curiosity! First they had to be all clever and go and invent the atomic bomb, and now they're threatening the entire universe. There's only one way to save ourselves. Quick, everyone grab your torches and sharpen your pitch forks! Everyone will meet in the local town or city center at sunset to form a mob, and then proceed to the local observatory!

    2. Re:So if I stop looking? by saintsfan · · Score: 3, Funny

      I agree. I'm no scientist, but it sounds like philosophy and science just had a nasty one night stand they will soon regret

    3. Re:So if I stop looking? by digitig · · Score: 4, Funny

      I agree. I'm no scientist, but it sounds like philosophy and science just had a nasty one night stand they will soon regret Yes, I expect they would -- philosophy is a parent of science, so a one-night stand between the two would be a pretty bad idea.
      --
      Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?
    4. Re:So if I stop looking? by Torvaun · · Score: 5, Funny

      Philosophy, Science, and Oedipus walk into a bar...

      --
      I see your informative link, and raise you a pithy comment.
    5. Re:So if I stop looking? by mikkelm · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sorry, my town center only holds 10 workers, and they're terrible archers.

    6. Re:So if I stop looking? by risk+one · · Score: 3, Funny

      Ouch.

    7. Re:So if I stop looking? by nacturation · · Score: 2, Funny

      Everyone will meet in the local town or city center at sunset to form a mob, and then proceed to the local observatory! Please be considerate and shield your torches from excess light pollution by enclosing the flame in red-tinted glass. Thanks, and remember to stop by the lobby for refreshments and souvenirs.
      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
    8. Re:So if I stop looking? by eugene+ts+wong · · Score: 4, Funny

      ...and the bartender says, "We don't serve your kind here.".

      Oedipus says, "Why not?".

      The bartender says, "No, not you. You're okay. We tolerate your sexual lifestyle in this neighbourhood. As for you 2, you both are just plain nuts.".

    9. Re:So if I stop looking? by NaugaHunter · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, it's not like any of them could see it coming.

      --
      R: That voice. Where have I heard that voice before? B: In about 365 other episodes. But I don't know who it is either.
    10. Re:So if I stop looking? by Oktober+Sunset · · Score: 2, Funny

      The observer effect works on us too, if aliens are observing us, they will be affecting our planet. Which leads to only one conclusion... global warming is caused by too many aliens looking at us!

  2. If that is true... by starglider29a · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do I also shorten the life of this post by reading it?

    1. Re:If that is true... by HeavensBlade23 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Quick, someone mod him down before he shortens all of our lives!

    2. Re:If that is true... by Carthag · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm doing my share of shortening the life of the universe by increasing entropy. Right now I'm rubbing my hands together, both in glee, and to create excess heat. Muahahaha.

    3. Re:If that is true... by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

      Do I also shorten the life of this post by reading it?

      Don't worry, dupes are on the way...

      Let's hope God is a slashdot editor.

    4. Re:If that is true... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Cut it out, you madman!

    5. Re:If that is true... by Yetihehe · · Score: 3, Funny

      Strange, when I rub my hands, there are only black, little, soft rods emerging. Is this dark matter everyone keeps talking about?

      --
      Extreme Programming - Redundant Array of Inexpensive Developers
    6. Re:If that is true... by ScentCone · · Score: 5, Funny

      Do I also shorten the life of this post by reading it?

      Dammit! I already made that joke when I submitted the article, and Zonk edited it out of my summary. I thought the whole thing was just silly, but it was such a good opportunity to be a smartass that I submitted it anyway. And look what happens. YOU get all the comedic karma. Perhaps the humor couldn't manifest itself until AFTER the submission had been observed? My original headline was "Mankind damages universe by looking at it," which was far more fun. Oh well.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    7. Re:If that is true... by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 2, Funny

      You may not damage the universe, but I suggest you have your vision checked regularly.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    8. Re:If that is true... by Joebert · · Score: 4, Funny

      If you keep doing that you'll go blind.

      --
      Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
    9. Re:If that is true... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      The is no Slashdot editor.

    10. Re:If that is true... by risk+one · · Score: 5, Funny

      Thus extending the life of the universe. Keep it up!

    11. Re:If that is true... by Rebelgecko · · Score: 2, Funny

      Keep it up! I've spent about 5 minutes trying to figure out whether or not that is intentional, bravo.
      --
      CATS/Diebold '08- All your vote are belong to us!
    12. Re:If that is true... by Joebert · · Score: 2, Funny

      exfoliating

      Well now, that's a word I never thought I'd see here.
      I'm a little hesitant to welcome our new exfoliating overloards.
      --
      Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
  3. wah by thhamm · · Score: 2, Funny

    quick, lets draw up some pointless laws against this!

  4. I for one welcome... by pwnies · · Score: 4, Funny

    What we don't realize is all this study into quantum mechanics is falling right into Schrodinger's cat's hands. It wants us to make him an undead kitty so it can open a hole in the universe and let the infinite number of possibilities of it all flow into this one, and thus will take over the world. The only way we'll win this future battle is if we observe it enough that it goes away.

  5. X-Bender: Bender's a genius! by JensenDied · · Score: 5, Funny

    Track Announcer: And the winner is ... Number 3, in a quantum finish.
    Farnsworth: No fair! You changed the outcome by measuring it!

    --

    09:F9:11:02 - 9D:74:E3:5B - D8:41:56:C5 - 63:56:88:C0

  6. Re:That's stupid by cleatsupkeep · · Score: 3, Funny

    No fair!! You changed the outcome by measuring it!!

  7. Of course! by Jethro · · Score: 5, Funny

    That explains a lot! Everytime I stare directly into a light source, the light goes away for a while! The stronger or more "pure" the light, the longer it is affected by me staring at it.

    Why, a few years ago I stared directly into a laser pointer, and to this day whenever I point it back into that eye, it generates NO LIGHT AT ALL.

    --


    In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is kinky.
  8. Re:On first glance... by rootofevil · · Score: 3, Funny

    lots of things can escaped being changed. typically they are not proceeded with a ^ or /

    --
    turn up the jukebox and tell me a lie
  9. SETI@Home is a terrorist plot by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 4, Funny

    Finally! The proof I always knew existed!
    SETI@Home is an Al Quaeda plot dedicated to the destruction of the universe!

    --
    When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  10. Dark energy is telepathic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Don't you guys know anything? Dark energy is telepathic, like that pitcher plant on Voyager. It KNOWS when you're looking at it, doesn't like it, and might snuff out the universe from pure spite.

    In order to appease it we must either a) outlaw astronomy and destroy all terrestrial, orbital, and extra-orbital equipment that might allow us to observe it or b) detonate all nuclear warheads on earth simultaneously thus killing the human race and all potential observers (that we know of). The latter might seem a bit extreme, but think about it: we are not only threatening this planet, but all planets everywhere. The end of Earth is a small price to pay to save the universe.

  11. Re:consciousness does not... by jimbojw · · Score: 1, Funny

    Listen up, maggots. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else.

    First you have to give up, first you have to *know*... not fear... *know*... that someday you're gonna die.

  12. Maybe the ancients were on to something by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Let's throw a blond bikini virgin into a volcano to see if that fixes it. (She won't date any of us anyhow.)

  13. Life imitates Douglas Adams by howdoesth · · Score: 3, Funny

    There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.

  14. How about Schrodinger cat? by porky_pig_jr · · Score: 2, Funny

    May be universe does not care about conscious observers, but cats sure do. Just try to observe any cat in your neighborhood and watch for its reaction.

  15. We're in for it now by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 2, Funny

    The mice are gonna be pissed.

    --
    Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  16. Perfect definition of Quantum Physics by RingDev · · Score: 2, Funny

    In short, quantum physics kicks common sense right smack in the nuts. That is perfect. Such phrases should be immortalized forever.

    -Rick
    --
    "Most people in the U.S. wouldn't know they live in a tyrannical state if it walked up and grabbed their junk." - MyFirs
  17. Re:On first glance... by Goaway · · Score: 2, Funny

    Fliechmann and Ponsi tried to do cold fusion to me You're making it sound so dirty.
  18. Re:That's stupid by Cyberax · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, if there's nobody to hear it then the question does not make any sense - tree will exist in fallen and standing states simultaneously :)

    But in the real world there's always some kind of 'observer'.

  19. Re:Already Proposed by Roblimo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actually, you need to be careful about reading observations in "fucking novels" AKA porn, or you will shorten your time to orgasm significantly, thereby proving that the cosmologists' theory applies to sex as much as to dark matter.

    (No racial jokes about "dark matter," please. In the unlit box, all of Schroedinger's cats are grey.)

  20. Re:Copenhagen interpretation by cryptoluddite · · Score: 2, Funny

    Waveform collapse is also called lazy evaluation. We're running in a simulation, get over it.

  21. Damn you Norris ! by Joebert · · Score: 3, Funny

    On Haloween Chuck Norris tried to scare himself while looking in the mirror.
    However since the resulting implosion of the universe was not able to account for the presense of Chuck Norris, it simply reset.

    --
    Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
  22. Re:The phrase by MikeDirnt69 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Those scientists must think outside the box... :D

    --
    Am I eval()? - http://www.monst3r.com.br
  23. Descartes revisited.... by MLease · · Score: 2, Funny

    "I observe, therefore I destroy!"

    -Mike

    --
    I'm sorry; I don't know what I was thinking!
  24. Re:On first glance... by rucs_hack · · Score: 2, Funny

    uh, Oxford doesn't have a department of nuclear physics [ox.ac.uk]

    It used to, you changed the answer by observing it..